Мауглі

           LittleToomaipatteredafterhim,barefooted,downtheroadinthemoonlight,callingunderhisbreath,"KalaNag!KalaNag!Takemewithyou,OKalaNag!"Theelephantturned,withoutasound,tookthreestridesbacktotheboyinthemoonlight,putdownhistrunk,swunghimuptohisneck,andalmostbeforeLittleToomaihadsettledhisknees,slippedintotheforest.

           Therewasoneblastoffurioustrumpetingfromthelines,andthenthesilenceshutdownoneverything,andKalaNagbegantomove.Sometimesatuftofhighgrasswashedalonghissidesasawavewashesalongthesidesofaship,andsometimesaclusterofwild-peppervineswouldscrapealonghisback,orabamboowouldcreakwherehisshouldertouchedit.Butbetweenthosetimeshemovedabsolutelywithoutanysound,driftingthroughthethickGaroforestasthoughithadbeensmoke.Hewasgoinguphill,butthoughLittleToomaiwatchedthestarsintheriftsofthetrees,hecouldnottellinwhatdirection.

           ThenKalaNagreachedthecrestoftheascentandstoppedforaminute,andLittleToomaicouldseethetopsofthetreeslyingallspeckledandfurryunderthemoonlightformilesandmiles,andtheblue-whitemistovertheriverinthehollow.Toomaileanedforwardandlooked,andhefeltthattheforestwasawakebelowhim—awakeandaliveandcrowded.Abigbrownfruit-eatingbatbrushedpasthisear;aporcupine’squillsrattledinthethicket;andinthedarknessbetweenthetreestemsheheardahog-beardigginghardinthemoistwarmearth,andsnuffingasitdigged.